Lt. Cmdr. Kirby L. “B” Gee, Ret.
Kirby left us September 27, 2025 in Clancy, Montana after a losing battle with dementia. A most cruel disease that robbed him of his memories before slowly robbing his body the ability to function.
Kirby was born February 4, 1929 in Fort Worth, Texas. His family migrated west in the later years of the Great Depression seeking work and opportunity. After graduating high school, Kirby enlisted in the US Navy in 1946 embarking on a 23 year career. He was proud of his time in the Navy where he was a test pilot in the early years of jet aircraft and was part of the US Navy Astronautics Group which later became the US Space Force. He was most proud of his time testing the limits of the A3J Vigilante at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Md. prior to it being placed into service as well as flying with the likes of John Glenn and Pete Conrad among others. He retired from the Navy in 1969 after serving his last two tours aboard the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany in Vietnam. He loved flying, maintaining his pilot’s license well into his later years. He owned several airplanes over the years and never missed a chance to soar through the skies. After his retirement from the Navy, he went back to school and obtained a Bio Medical Engineering degree to add to his Electrical Engineering degree. He went to work for IBM for a short time where he invented the “osmo-servo”, the technology that brought the ink jet printer to life.
Kirby married twice. In 1950 he married Carolyn Wiggins of Spartanburg, S.C. Together they had four children, twins Kerry (Trombetta) and Steve, sons Andy, and Richard (Skip). He later reunited with his childhood sweetheart Nina Foran and married in 1970. Nina brought four children of her own into the family. Daughters Kim (Villard), Kerry (Messer), Kate (Muir) and son Patrick. It was sometimes confusing having two daughters/sisters named Kerry, we affectionately referred to them simply as Kerry 1 and Kerry 2.
Kirby and Nina purchased a bare piece of ground outside of Hayfork, Ca. in 1973. A logging and ranching town tucked into the mountains of Trinity County. Over the next years, we developed the land into the “Natural Bridge Ranch”. What an adventure that was. Teaching his children the values, skills and ethics of building something from the ground up, working the land and raising stock. In the mid-nineties they sold the ranch and embarked on more adventures aboard a 40’ Safari motor home for several years. While on the road, they established a publishing company. Publishing stories of people they met while traveling.
Kirby is preceded in death by his wife Nina and son Steve. He is survived by his other seven children, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. He lived life to the fullest, never letting anything get in his way. “There’s nothing you can’t accomplish if you put your mind to it”. Lessons he instilled in his children. Something he proved again and again during our time at the ranch and over the years. His knowledge, wisdom and advice were of great value, he and Nina will be forever missed and remembered.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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